Nobody loves facing insurmountable obstacles and failures in life. One of the simplest and easiest ways to avoid these is by heeding others’ experiences and learning from their mistakes. An even better way is to have someone who constantly inspires us and alerts us in such situations, but then that is a matter of grace! As students of Atmiya Vidya Mandir, we are immensely blessed and privileged to receive inspiration and guidance from Param Pujya Swamishree.
Furthermore, it has become a custom at AVM to invite alumni to share their life experiences and the transformative impact that having studied at AVM has had on their lives. This year, continuing this tradition, Parthbhai Amipara, an alumnus from the class of 2015, imparted the importance of wisdom and prudence to the current students in a witty and engaging manner via Zoom while he was on a business trip to south-east Asia. His modest approach captivated the students, keeping them fully attentive throughout the session. Both teachers and students of grades 10, 11, and 12 remarked that this was one of the most invigorating sessions they had experienced.
The event took place in the auditorium from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm with the senior students in attendance. Parthbhai shared his career’s ups and downs, emphasizing how he persevered through adverse circumstances with hard work and prayers. His habit of putting in sincere efforts and relying on earnest prayers that he had developed while at AVM continued to help him overcome challenges even after graduating from AVM. In the midst of the uncertain phase of his college admissions after his 12th board exams, eventually a light of hope shone amidst the darkness, leading him to pursue a totally unanticipated program of Mining Engineering in Perth, Australia.
Upon being asked, he shared that during his time post AVM, he was able to dodge the usual distractions due to his faith in Shikshapatri. During his four years of college, he had a series of experiences that continuously assured him of God’s constant presence with him. Remarkably, in the year of his graduation, only seven mining engineers, including him, graduated in all of Australia, leading to a high demand for mining engineers. This facilitated his employment at one of the best mining companies in the world – Rio Tinto. Parthbhai attributed his success to the grace of Swamiji and Prabodhswamiji. Teachers also noted that his batch was exceptionally blessed by Swamiji because of their class’s striving to live with the ‘We are One’ spirit.
Through his insightful experiences, Parthbhai emphasized the invaluable nature of the education acquired at AVM. He stressed the importance of the habit of reading and the willingness to work exceptionally hard which he had developed due to the AVM early morning schedule during his twelfth grade. He pointed out that ‘knowledge is power’, and acknowledged that what we learn today will benefit us in the future.
He concluded the session by highlighting a crucial aspect of life: “Give your best and then rely on GOD’s strength.”
Written by: Sahaj Rohit, Ved Vaghasia (Grade 10)
